Want to protect your house of worship? Scholarships offered for ISA coexist security program

Coexist Training Scholarship

The Independent Security Advisors House of Worship Security Program is proud to announce the coexist scholarship available to House of Worship Safety and Security volunteers and employees.

Each $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to verified security personal to attend any ISA training course for the remainder of 2019 and through 2020.

With the rising level of violence directed towards clergy, house of worship staff and congregation members, as well as the increasing cases of vandalism and arson, the ISA house of worship security team has decided to fund these scholarships hoping every house of worship with the need or desire to have at least one security specialist will now be in a position to do so.

Houses of worship should be the safest places on Earth; sadly, they are not. Every day, across the United States, they are victimized by criminal occurrences.
William S. Carcara, Chief of Police (Retired), Jefferson County, Kentucky

Quick Facts: From January 1, 1999, through October 27th, 2018 there have been no fewer than 1,716 violent incidents, including 18 fatal houses of worship shootings.

Since 2012 In addition to Christian churches, fatal shootings have happened at a Benedictine monastery, a Sikh temple, an Amish school, and a Jewish temple. And the number of violent incidents that are taking place on the grounds of churches and other faith-based facilities nationwide is increasing.

“Ministers and other religious leaders occupy a unique position in their members’ lives. Often they are revered, respected, and honored. Other times they are judged harshly for some individual shortcomings or are seen as the individuals responsible for an adverse event in either a member’s life or in the organization as a whole”.

“Ministers and other religious leaders have the right to conduct their ministries without fear, to live safely, and to enjoy their lives without undue anxiety”.

William S. Carcara, Chief of Police (Retired), Jefferson County, Kentucky